| 100% | SNL | 3 | TV staple for over 30 years (and a hint to 17-, 21-, 32-, 41-, 54- and 61-Across) |
| 47% | NIXON | 5 | Two-time Time Man of the Year (and a hint to 17-, 27-, 41- and 54-Across) |
| 42% | FINDINGNEMO | 11 | 2003 animated film … with a hint to 17-, 32- and 41-Across |
| 42% | ASTHEWORLDTURNS | 15 | TV soap for 54 years ... and a hint to the puzzle circles |
| 40% | HEADPHONES | 10 | They bring music to one's ears ... or a hint to 17-, 21-, 33-, 45- and 54-Across |
| 40% | PARTYFOUL | 9 | Knocking over someone's drink, e.g. … or, homophonically, a hint to 17-, 27-, 39- and 54-Across |
| 40% | TRIMMINGTHETREE | 15 | Yuletide undertaking, and a hint to the starts of 17-, 21-, 54- and 63-Across |
| 40% | POWERCOUPLE | 11 | Beyoncé and Jay Z, e.g. ... or a hint to 17-, 30-, 44- and 61-Across |
| 40% | APRILFOOL | 9 | Cry for today, and a hint to the starts of 17-, 25-, 37- and 54-Across |
| 38% | OHGEEZ | 6 | "Yikes!" ... or, phonetically, a hint to 17-, 28-, 46- and 61-Across |
| 38% | NOWAY | 5 | "Forget it!" ... or a hint to 17-, 30-, 46- and 62-Across |
| 38% | BOB | 3 | Short haircut, and a hint to 17-, 25-, 43- and 54-Across |
| 37% | DONOT | 5 | "___ disturb!" (and a hint for 17-, 40- and 65-Across, and 10- and 30-Down) |
| 37% | HIDDENFEE | 9 | Feature of some contracts, and a hint to 17-, 25- and 41-Across |
| 37% | LANDBRIDGE | 10 | Continental connection … and a hint to 17-, 24-, 31-, 41- and 48-Across |
| 37% | DOUBLEPLAY | 10 | Diamond feat ... and a hint to 17-, 21-, 35-, 47- and 59-Across |
| 37% | MIDDLEC | 7 | Starting point for a piano student, or a phonetic hint to 17-, 18-, 22-, 33-, 41-, 49- and 55-Across |
| 37% | CORDCUTTER | 10 | Cable TV unsubscriber, and a hint to 17-, 28- and 42-Across |
| 37% | BODYPAINT | 9 | Some festival wear, and a hint to 17-, 30-, 37- and 43-Across |
| 37% | ENTOMBMENTS | 11 | Burials for pharaohs, and a hint to 17-, 26-, 40- and 52-Across |
| 36% | MEATOFTHEMATTER | 15 | Issue's most important element ... and a hint to 17-, 30-, 36- and 47-Across |
| 36% | FALLINGBEHIND | 13 | Lagging ... or a hint to 17-, 19-, 56- and 61-Across |
| 36% | THINKBIG | 8 | "Shoot for the moon!" ... or a hint to interpreting the clues to 17-, 25-, 35- and 51-Across |
| 36% | FALSESTARTS | 11 | Reasons to begin a race over … and a hint to 17-, 25-, 39- and 49-Across |
| 36% | PUTONASHOW | 10 | Go over the top, or a hint to 17-, 23-, 37-, and 48-Across |
| 36% | PRIMETIME | 9 | When TV viewership peaks ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 53-Across |
| 36% | FIRSTSTATE | 10 | Delaware's nickname, or a hint to 17-, 23-, and 54-Across |
| 36% | ANDES | 5 | Mountain chain about 5,000 miles long ... or a hint to 17-, 25-, 31-, 44-, 50- and 61-Across |
| 36% | WIDE | 4 | With 64-Across, like a town lacking restrictions ... and a hint to 17-, 23- and 32-Across |
| 35% | CHIPSIN | 7 | Contributes to a group gift … or a hint to 17-, 22-, 48- and 54-Across |